Automatic fuel-feed mechanism for furnaces.



G. DIN KEL.

AUTOMATIC FUEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FURNACES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 190B.

Patented Septh13,1910.

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vmmhws. (I! I G. DINKBL. AUTOMATIC FUEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FUBNAOES. APPLIOATION FILED N019, 1908. 970,432. Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

'! SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIl APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1908.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

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G. DINKEL.

AUTOMATIC FUEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FURNACES. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 9. 1008.

970,432. Patented Sept 13,1910.

7 BHEETB-BHBET 4.

G. DINKEL.

AUTOMATIC FUEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FURNACES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1908.

970,432. I Patented Sept. 13,1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Wmmwsw s.

Wwfiuw.

G. DINKEL.

AUTOMATIC FUEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FURNACES. APPLICATION II-LED NOV. 9. 1908.

Patented Sept. 13,1910.

7- BHEIITB-BHEET 6.

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G. DINKEL. AUTOMATIC FUEL FEED MECHANISM FOR FURNACES.

APPLICATION mum NOV. 9. 1908.

970,432. Patented Sept 13;1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

2 fill fill V 5% Fig/12. K41 m 3 y I m ing to said feed pro the .UNITE GEORGE DINKEL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC FUEL-FEED MECHANISM FOR FURNACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 9, 1908. Serial No. 461,616.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE'DINKEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, Hudson county, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fuel- Feed Mechanism for Furnaces, of which the I following is a specification.

M invention relates to the automatic feeding of coal to a furnace of any kind, more particularly to the feeding of culm, small anthracite and bituminous coal to steam boiler furnaces.

A distinguishing feature is the use of a coal propeller consisting essentially of a rotating shaft carrying heaters by which the fuel is precipitated into the furnace through a suitable feed opening; and also in impartller an oscillating gyrator motion by' w ich the fuel is distribute evenly and uniformly over the length and breadth of the rate area.

My invention also inclu es the use of certain deflectors in conjunction with the fuel.

propeller; and in certain other features in the construction and arrangement of parts helrleinafter described and claimed specifica Iii the accompanying drawin Figure 1, is an elevation of my improve feed mechanism arranged in relation to a boiler furnace; Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional elevation upon the plane of line 2-2- Fig. 1; Fig. 3, is an elevation taken on the right hand side of the feed mechanism and showing only the outline of the boiler; Fi 4, is an elevation taken on the left hand si e of the feed mechanism; Fig. 5, is a horizontal section taken upon the plane of line 5-5-- Fig. 3; Fig. 6, is an elevation of the coal propel er and sup ports; Fi 7, is an elevation upon an enarged sca e of the inner face of the right hand side segmental gear for the coal 'pro eller; Fig. 8, is a section upon the plane of ine 88-- Fi 7 Fig. 9, is a section upon lane of line 99 Fig. 3; F i 10, is a si e elevation of the deflectin mechanism; Fig. 11, is a diagram illustrating the axial vertical vibration ofthe coal ropeller; Fig. 12, is a diagram illustrating t e axial vibration of the coal propeller in a horizontal direction, and its relation to the furnace open ing and coal feed; Figs. 13, 14 and 15, are detail views of one ofthe coal ropeller racks; Fig. 16, is across section 0 the coal propeller provided with hinged heaters; Fig.

17, is a similar view showing the heaters provided with sprin s; Fig. 18, is a detail view upon an enlarge scale of the spring pawl and ratchet; Flg. 19, is a detail sectional clevation upon an enlarged scale of the wrist pin and connections; Fig. 20, is an end elevation of the bifurcated connecting rod.

F, represents a boiler furnace of ordinary construction, provided with the usual furnace door opening f, and ash pit opening f. In addition to these thefront of the furnace is formed with a feed opening f, through which the fuel is introduced into the furnace bymy fuel propeller P. This propeller consists essentia ly of a rotatable shaft carrying a series of heaters 72', by which t e fuel, as it drops from the feed above is precipitated into the furnace through the opening 7. The direction of rotation of the fuel ropeller P, referring to Fig. 2, is upward rom right to left.

' H, is a hopper for containing the supply of, fuel, such as culm, fine bituminous or other forms of small coal. The feed opening 1, is controlled b a slide h, the fuel descendin throu h t e o enin shelf S. his she f S, is situate above the propeller P, and is adjustable with relation thereto upon the horizontal members a, of the framework A, by means of adjusting rods 6, or other mechanical expedient. Thus the front edge 8, of the shelf S, may be advanced or retracted with relation to the axis of the propeller shaft below.

G, is a fuel forwar er by which the coal is advanced on the shelf S. This forwarder C, constitutes the bottom of the hop er H, and is provided on its underside wit rack teeth 0, which mesh with the teeth on the segments d, on the rock shaft d. The rock shaft 0?, is rocked indirectly by an eccentric e, on the shaft e,the eccentric rod e being formed with adjustable shoulders e, and e, which act a ainst an arm d, on the rock shaft d. In t e drawings this is shown as accomplished by threadin the eccentric rod 6, and making the shou ders e c, in the form ofnuts which are adjustable thereon. The eccentric rod e", passes through a loo or eye in the arm d, of the rock shaft (Z and its inner end is supported by a flexible Suspender e, as will be seen more particularly by reference to Fig. 2.

The eccentric shaft-e, carries a gear e",

k, to the a which meshes with a corresponding gear '9, on the shaft g. This shaft 9', also carries a ratchet wheel 9 with .which engages the spring pawl 11, (shown in detail in Fig. 18), it. belng mounted uponthe pawl arm- 6. The latter is pfvotallyattached to and actuated by the eccentric rod i connected with the eccentric I, upon the power shaft J.

K It will be seen that the motion of the forwarder C, is. intermittent; and that the extent of forward thrust may be regulated by the position of the "nut e, on the eccentric rod 6 The forwarder C is used to insure a positive though intermittent feed of fuel to the propeller P. i

I oscillate the propeller P longitudinally on a central fulcrum in such manner that its ends are alternately advanced and retracted with relation to the furnace opening, as well as raised and lowered, so that the fuel is distributed over a wide area within the furnace.

The motion imparted to the fuel propeller platform Q, upon segmental cam gears g, 9

These segmental gears q, 9 are opposed to each otherin eccentricity, but otherwise duplicates in so far as their thrust and travel is concerned. They engage with racks q", andg, on the underside of the platform Q, and are actuated by a rod 9 pivotally connected with the segmental cam gear 9, the motion being transmitted to the platform Q, to the opposed segmental cam gear The connecting rod f, is reciprocated so as to rock thesegmental cam gears q, g, by

means of a pivotal connection with the.

crank g on the ratchet shaft 9.

In order to regulate and vary the extentof motion of the segmental cam gears g, g (which may be designated as rockers) f mount the wrist block 94, adjustably in a radial slot f, in the segmental gear g, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 19,it being obvious that asthe wrist pin is adjusted to or from the fulcrum of said gear, the

throw of the gear will be increased or dimin-- ished.

The segmental cam gears being arranged in opposition to each other and working in unison, raise one end, of the platform while advancing it toward the fuel feed opening, and lower the other end of the platform while detracting it from said furnace feed opening. As a result an oscillating gyratory bear upon the belt T, to compensate emaaa motion is imparted to each ei1d of the propeller with the center of its longitudinal axis, as, the center of vibration.

I do not limit myself to the particular form of fulcrum or pivotal supportfor the frdme Q, the -only essential feature in this respect, being abearing that will permit the frame Q, to rock freely under the action of the segmental cam gears.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the bracket 1', is rigidly secured to the front of the furnace plate, and is formed witha hemispherical socket r, in which rests the hemispherical bearing q, attached centrally to the undersideof the frameQ. The hearing 9, is retained in its seat 0", by means of a concave follower g", fitting and sliding over the convex under surface of the socket 1", and attached to the hemispherical bearing by a screw 9 passing through it and through a conical opening in the bottom of said socket as shown in Fig. 2.

The propeller P, is driven by any'means that may be found most expedient. In the drawings it is shown as driven by a belt T,

passing over the pulley pf, on one end of the shaft power shaft J A belt tightening device K, of any desired construction is arranged to or the orbitary motion of the pulley 2 on the shaft p, and keep the belt taut. An arrangement of this kind is shown by way of illustration in Figs. 1 and 4.

The gyratory motion imparted to the prothe end of the propeller raised throwin the fuel obliquely toward the opposite si e of j the furnace at an elevation so as to reach the farthest extent of the grate area, while the depressed side of the propeller throws the fuel diagonally across the furnace grate toward the other side thereof, at a lower level and covering the front portion of the grate, 'and this action alternates from. one side to the other as the propeller gyrates on its central support, tending to distribute the fuel f evenly and uniformly over the whole furnace area. Y

The adjustment of the feed with relation to the axis of the propeller P, is important in that it determines and regulates the force of impact and consequently the impetus imparted to the fuel,an essential feature when dealling with difieren't sizes and grades of coa a t For the protection of the heaters 2, they are preferably hinged or loosely attached to the shaft 12, and in action are extended rap, and over a driving pulley j, on the peller P, causes its heaters 12, to precipltate dially by centrifugal force as illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17. This allows them to yield temporarily if a piece of coal of extra size 12, in which the letter p", p", represents 7 the longitudinal axis of the propeller Pin its extremes of oscillation.

In burning bituminous or some other grades of coal, it is desirable to have a sufciently intense heat in the furnace to burn off the volatile matter or gases as fast as they are distilled off from the fuel, and to accomplish this the incandescenoe-of a portion of the fuel on the grate is desirable. In order to effect and control this result with accuracy, I provide horizontal deflectors N,

' which may be used not only in distributing the fuel uniformly over the whole length of grate when desired, but ma also be set to deliver the coal to either tile front or the rear portion thereof,--the fuel on the other portion of the grate in the mean time being maintained in an incandescent state, for the purpose above stated. Thus alternate sections of the fuel on the grate may be replenished while the otherportion furnishes the requisite heat to insure the combustion of'the gaseous products given, off by the fresh fuel and by this method, smoke may be eliminated and the full value of fuel utilized. I also provide a vertical deflector M, arranged centrally in the furnace feed opening f which may be controlled manually if desired, to divert the path of a portion of the fuel to one side or the other of the furnaoe. These deflectors may be actuated automatically if desired by motion borrowed from an operative part of the mechanism. In the arrangement shown in the drawings, the deflectors are situated just inside the fuel feed opening f being mounted pivotally on the front plate f, of the furnace. In this case the vertical deflector M,'converges inwardly to admit of the play of the horizontal deflectors N, which are coupled together by a pivotal link n. A crank arm n, connects them pivotally with a connecting rod 12., pivotally connected at its other end to the segmental cam gear 9 so that the deflectors N, are rocked in unison with the motion of the propeller P. The central vertical deflector M, may be actuated automatically by the same movement, by providing it with a rocker arm m, having a bifurcated end m, which straddles a threaded extension of the link a, on which are adjustable bearing nuts m, m, by which the deflector M, may be adjusted either to the right or to the left as may be found most expedient. This central deflector M, may be actuated independently of the other deflectors N, if desired; and I do not therefore limit myself to the s ecific mechanism herein shown for controlling the deflectors,

since other mechanical expedients may be resorted to without, departing from the spirit and intent of my invention.

It is to be understood that the fuel feeding mechanism herein set forth, is to be duplicated foreach furnace opening; and that a series of them ma be arranged in conjunction and operated by a single power shaft.

Furthermore my automatic fuel feed mechanism is so arranged and laced as not to interfere with" the firing o the furnace in the ordinary manner when desired.

-' What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In combination with a furnace having a fuel feed opening, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through said opening consistin of a rotatable shaft provided with beaters or impact with the fuel, means for rotating said shaft, means for imparting to said propeller an oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each other, and fuel feed mechanism arranged above said propeller, for the purpose described.

2. In combination with a furnace havin a fuel opening a fuel propeller arrange to precipitate fuel through said openm consisting of a rotatable shaft provided wit 1 heaters for impact with the fuel, a vibratory platform on which said propeller shaft is mounted, a ball and socket bearing supporting said shaft centrally, means for imparting to said platform an oscillatory motion in'two planes at right an les to each other, means for rotating said s aft on its longitudinal axis, and means for feeding fuel to said propeller, for the purpose described.

3. In combination with a furnace having a fuel feed opening, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through said openin consisting of a rotatable shaft provided wlth beaters for impact with the fuel, a vibratory platform on which said shaft is mounted, a central sup ortin pivot for said platform, racks on said platfbrm, segmental cam gears engaging said racks, means for actuating said segmental gears to impart to said platform an oscillatory motion in two 'planes at right angles to each other, means for rotating said propeller shaft, and fuel feed mechanism above said propeller, for the purpose described.

'4. In combination with a furnace having a .fuelfeed opening, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through said openin consisting of a rotatable shaft provided with boaters for impact with the fuel, means for rotating said shaft, means for imparting to said propeller an oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each other, fuel with beaters for impact with the fuel, means feed mechanism arranged above said propeller, and means for adjusting the fuel feed with relation to the longitudinal axis of said propeller, for the purpose described.

a fuel feed 0 ening, a fuel propeller ar-, ranged to precipitate fuel through said opening consisting of a rotatable shaft provided for rotating said shaft, means for imparting to said propeller an oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each other,

fuel feed mechanism arranged 'above said propeller, means for adjusting the fuel feed with relation to the longitudinal axis of said propeller, and means for positively forwarding the fuel feed, for the purpose described. p

a 7. In combination with a furnace having a fuel feed opening, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through said opening consisting of a rotatable shaft provided with beaters for impact with the fuel, said beaters being hinged to said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means for imparting to said propeller an oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each other,

and fuel feed mechanism arranged above said propeller, for the purpose described.

8. In combination with a furnace having a fuel feed opening, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through-said opening consisting of a rotatable shaft rovided with-beaters for impact with the el, said .beaters being hinged to said shaft, springs said beaters, means for rotating sai means for imparting tosaid propeller an mounted upon said shaft and heard? upon shaft oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each other, and fuel feed mechanism arranged above-said propeller, for the purpose described.

- 9. The combination with a furnace'having. a fuel feed openingy-a vertical deflector ar-- ranged within said-fuel feed opening, means for operating said deflector, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through said opening consisting of a rotatable shaft rovided with beaters for impact with the el, means for rotating said shaft, means for imparting to said propeller an oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each other, and fuel feed mechanism arranged above said propeller, for the purpose described. I

10. The combination with a furnace having a fuel feed opening, a pair of horizontal deflectors arranged within said furnace feed opening, one near the top and one near the bottom thereof, and meansfor operating said deflectors simultaneously, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through said opening consisting of a rotatable shaft provided with beaters for impact with the fuel, means for rotating said shaft, means for imparting to said propeller an oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each other, and fuel feed mechanism arranged above said propeller, for the purpose de-- scribed.

11. The combination with a furnace having a fuel feed opening, a pair of horizontal deflectors arranged within said furnace open- .ing, one near the top and the other near the bottom thereof, a central vertical deflector arranged within said furnace feed opening,

and between said horizontal deflectors, means for operating said deflectors, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through said opening consisting of a rotatable shaft provided with-beaters for impact with the el,

means for rotating said shaft, means for imparting to said propeller an oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each I other, and fuel feed mechanism arranged above said propeller, for the purpose described. Y

12. In combination with a furnace having a fuel feed opening, a fuel propeller arranged to precipitate fuel through said opening consistin of a rotatable shaft provlded with beaters or impact with the fuel, means for rotating said shaft, means for imparting to said propeller an oscillatory motion in two planes at right angles to each other, means for regulat the thrust of said fuel propeller with relation to the furnace fuel opening, and fuel feed mechanism arranged above said. propeller, for the purpose described.

13. The combination of a furnace formed with a fuel opening, a rotatable fuel propeller shaft provided with beaters and arra ed to precipitate fuel through said fuel fee opening, means for rotating said fuel propeller shaft, means for imparting to sand propeller shaft an 'osclllatory motion In two I lanes at right angles to each other, fuel' eed mechanism arranged to deposit fuel on I a fuel feed shelf above said fuel propeller shaft, said feed shelf interposed between the fuel feed mechanism and the said fuel propeller and arranged to'control the delivery of fuel-to the latter, means for adjusting said fuel feed shelf with relation to the axis of by the deliver of fuel to the furnace may the fuel propeller a air of arallel horizonbe raised or owered, for the purpose detal deflectors in said mace uel opening, one sorlbed.

near the to and the other near the bottom GEORGE DINKEL. 5 thereof, an 'means for adjusting the inclina- W1tnesses:

tion OI said horizontal deflectors vertically GEO. WM. MIA'L'T,

while maintaining their parallelism, where- D. W. GARDNER. 

